Launched in 1981, Sir Clive Sinclair's ZX81 - successor to his ZX80
released the year before - was designed to be a low-cost introduction to
home computing for the general public. It was a hugely successful
machine, with over one and a half million 'official' units being sold;
many more unauthorised 'clones' were also produced, particularly in
Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries of the era. One could either
purchase the machine pre-built, or - as a significant number of
consumers did - buy it in kit form for assembly at home at a slightly
cheaper price. This 'DIY' approach, encouraged by Sinclair Research,
became a core element of the computer's genetic make-up. Those who were
comfortable putting together the four silicon chips and other such
components were just as keen to poke around the machine's memory,
learning as much as they could about its capability; the programs they
would write could easily be shared once saved onto a standard audio
cassette.
It became common for magazines - both from major publishers and their
smaller, fan-produced brethren - to feature listings of programs for the
home user to type in themselves. This book features thirty such
programs, covering everything from card games and shoot 'em ups to
utilities and educational software. The 'Not Only' in the title refers
to the fact that in addition to the code listings themselves, the book
provides the reader with additional programming hints, advanced
space-saving techniques (remember, the ZX81 only had one kilobyte of
memory!) and general coding advice to up-skill anyone interested in
doing so.
This 40th anniversary reproduction is the first time this hugely
influential and popular book has been printed in decades. Available in
paperback form like the original, or a collector's hardback edition, it
is the ideal purchase or gift for any fan of the early days of home
computing.
